The Shooting Range

[shookme]

Several firearms laws are federally regulated, most in fact. Firearms do have to be registered as far as serial numbers, make, model, caliber, etc. but firearms registered to an individual are not tracked. Think of your driver's license as an example. You don't have to have a license to own a firearm, unless it's fully automatic or suppressed, which in that case you have to have a Class 3 Federal Firearms License unless you're in the military of course. You can actually buy a federal tax stamp and purchase a suppressed weapon if you're willing to pay the $200-$250 (can't remember which) license fee and wait a year and a half or so for your stamp to come in. You can track a firearm thru an exhaustive type of search but you're at the mercy of the first person who sells the firearm on a handshake to another individual. Say I buy a handgun from a gun store, that handgun purchase is entered into the store's database with my name with all my information, but, a year from then say I sell said handgun to my neighbor for $300 cash. I can legally do that and not technically have to have any paperwork. I would get a receipt if it were me but according to the laws, there is nothing illegal about an individual selling a firearm to another individual in the US. Except for handguns, of which you have to be 21 years of age to own, shotguns and rifles can be sold to 18 year olds here in the US. The only actual gun REGISTRATION in the U.S. is with guns that are suppressed (equipped with silencers), fully automatic weapons, or SBRs(short barreled rifles). These weapons all fall under the NFA(National Firearms Act) and are tracked thoroughly.

States are able to dictate some firearms laws at the state level and it varies from state to state on how restrictive these laws are. State laws usually deal with if a person can carry a concealed weapon or not, what types of establishments said weapons can be carried into, or whether to have open or concealed carry firearms laws.

If you're talking about CCL (concealed carry licenses) they vary greatly from state to state. Here in Arkansas, when you first go for your CCL, you have to take a class from a certified instructor, then qualify on a range, pay the instructor fees and the licensing fees to your respective state. The license takes about 6 months the first time to process and it looks pretty much like a driver's license (at least in Arkansas it does). The initial license will cost you around $150.00 or so. The Arkansas State Police handles all CCL licensing in my state. The CCL is good for five years and will stipulate "allowed to carry any legal handgun" on the license once you receive it. Every five years you are required to qualify on a certified firing range but you don't have to ake the course over again. The firearms course is a one time deal. Here in Arkansas, the actual shooting exam is pretty much a joke. You fire 25 rounds from soup to nuts. Five shots one handed from your strong hand, five shots one handed from your weak hand, ten shots two handed, and then a final five shots one handed from your strong hand again. You don't have to get the shots in the ten ring or anything, just put them on the paper. If I remember correctly, it costs around $65.00 for the renewal fees plus range fees for wherever you go to re-qualify(has to be a certified CCL renewal firing range).

Hope that helps. Have a good week.

Yeah, what Ghost said.

However, in Michigan at least, if I were to sell a handgun the purchaser would have to go to their local police station to get a purchase permit, unless they have have a CPL. Either way you have to bring paperwork back to the PD for them to enter the info on the pistol. I was under the assumption that was a federal law. Apparently it's a state law?

 

[ghost19]

Yeah, what Ghost said.

However, in Michigan at least, if I were to sell a handgun the purchaser would have to go to their local police station to get a purchase permit, unless they have have a CPL. Either way you have to bring paperwork back to the PD for them to enter the info on the pistol. I was under the assumption that was a federal law. Apparently it's a state law?

Yes sir, that sounds like a state law. Here in Arkansas, I can literally sell a gun on a handshake if you want to. I don't even have to get a receipt, although it would be silly not to if you ask me. I've sold a couple of weapons to individuals and I always make out a receipt, getting the person's name, DOB, address and phone number, then get it notarized for my records just in case later on down the line the weapon is used to commit a crime. When the police come knocking on my door in the midst of their investigation I can easily show them chain of custody on the firearm and give them a link to the next owner.

 

[shookme]

Yes sir, that sounds like a state law. Here in Arkansas, I can literally sell a gun on a handshake if you want to. I don't even have to get a receipt, although it would be silly not to if you ask me. I've sold a couple of weapons to individuals and I always make out a receipt, getting the person's name, DOB, address and phone number, then get it notarized for my records just in case later on down the line the weapon is used to commit a crime. When the police come knocking on my door in the midst of their investigation I can easily show them chain of custody on the firearm and give them a link to the next owner.

Got it. Thank you.

Not a bad idea as far as your record keeping. I have a friend that was in the ATF's hot seat years ago after selling a gun to someone who later converted it to fully automatic.. Too much information is better than not enough.

 

[ghost19]

Got it. Thank you.

Not a bad idea as far as your record keeping. I have a friend that was in the ATF's hot seat years ago after selling a gun to someone who later converted it to fully automatic.. Too much information is better than not enough.

Absolutely. Back in 1994 I sold, to my everlasting stupidity, an actual Beretta 92F 9mm that I had bought prior to Beretta handguns being produced in the US. It was a Cadillac of a 9mm, and I've never understood what the hell I was thinking getting rid of it....

 

[mjs9153]

yes,the state laws are a hodgepodge,depending on where you live,some states have liberal policies as far as owning guns and some are ridiculously restrictive..the thing to do is research on the net if you are thinking about coming to the states as a visitor and wish to carry.The federal thing,I believe they are trying to pass a law where police officers,active and retired,can carry from state to state,which makes sense given the stringent qualifying that officers go through..

 

[shookme]

Here's another one I picked up last winter. Winchester Defender, 7+1 capacity for 2 3/4" shells.

 

[ghost19]

I'll try to take a pic and upload it to this thread of my most valued rifle. It's a custom built .308 caliber long range rifle. It has a 24" floated Remington barrel, a synthetic polymer thumb hole stock, a Mauser 98 bolt action with a 2.5 pound pull match trigger. I saved up for a long time to buy the optics, a Leupold Mark 4 LR/T 3.5-10x40mm (30mm) M3 Mil Dot tactical scope. The scope is amazingly clear at long range. My eyesight ain't what it used to be, but the rifle is zeroed to 500 yards and it will still hold a very tight pattern at that range. I started calling it "Honeybadger" a few years ago when my son told me the rifle looked like one of the rifles from his Call of Duty video game. He said that in the game, the rifle was called "Honeybadger" and the name stuck...lol

Ok, here's "Honeybadger", my pride and joy as far as rifles go.

The bipod is detachable but I don't carry it as a shoulder weapon so I just leave the bipod attached. It's had a lot of rounds put thru it but it still will get the job done at long range.

 

[ghost19]

Here's another one I picked up last winter. Winchester Defender, 7+1 capacity for 2 3/4" shells.

View attachment 9502

Can't go wrong with that model sir. I've got Mossberg Persuader 500 that holds 7+1 2 3/4". I have a level 3 recoil pad on the stock but it's still not a shotgun I want to shoot any more than a few times in a row, you'll feel it the next day in your shoulder...lol

 

[Grandpa]

yes,the state laws are a hodgepodge,depending on where you live,some states have liberal policies as far as owning guns and some are ridiculously restrictive..

I'm not trying to make this political, I'm really not. I'm just saying this for the benefit and context of our non-U.S. friends here. "Ridiculously restrictive" is still probably far less restrictive than any other countries whose citizens are members of this forum.

 

[mjs9153]

I'm not trying to make this political, I'm really not. I'm just saying this for the benefit and context of our non-U.S. friends here. "Ridiculously restrictive" is still probably far less restrictive than any other countries whose citizens are members of this forum.

Well,neither am I..I say that due to the hoops that law abiding citizens in some states have to jump through to have the right to purchase a gun..as a for instance,the state I live in,after retiring from active duty of over twenty years as a police officer,no black marks or excessive force incidents,it took ten months for me to get a pistol permit..after qualifying year after year,high scores always,no safety problems with a gun either..and I know of people who have taken well over a year to get theirs in this state.That is what I meant,I realize other countries have their issues,I was just making a general statement there..

 

[Alexandra M]

e in the US. The only actual gun REGISTRATION in the U.S. is with guns that are suppressed (equipped with silencers), fully automatic weapons, or SBRs(short barreled rifles). These weapons all fall under the NFA(National Firearms Act) and are tracked thoroughly.

States are able to dictate some firearms laws at the state level and it varies from state to state on how restrictive these laws are. State laws usually deal with if a person can carry a concealed weapon or not, what types of establishments said weapons can be carried into, or whether to have open or concealed carry firearms laws.

If you're talking about CCL (concealed carry licenses) they vary greatly from state to state. Here in Arkansas, when you first go for your CCL, you have to take a class from a certified instructor, then qualify on a range, pay the instructor fees and the licensing fees to your respective state. The license takes about 6 months the first time to process and it looks pretty much like a driver's license (at least in Arkansas it does). The initial license will cost you around $150.00 or so. The Arkansas State Police handles all CCL licensing in my state. The CCL is good for five years and will stipulate "allowed to carry any legal handgun" on the license once you receive it. Every five years you are required to qualify on a certified firing range but you don't have to ake the course over again. The firearms course is a one time deal. Here in Arkansas, the actual shooting exam is pretty much a joke. You fire 25 rounds from soup to nuts. Five shots one handed from your strong hand, five shots one handed from your weak hand, ten shots two handed, and then a final five shots one handed from your strong hand again. You don't have to get the shots in the ten ring or anything, just put them on the paper. If I remember correctly, it costs around $65.00 for the renewal fees plus range fees for wherever you go to re-qualify(has to be a certified CCL renewal firing range).

Hope that helps. Have a good week.[/QUOTE]

Yes, it was interesting to hear how different they are in the U.S. You, meaning U.S. citizen, have an easier time of it as to requirements, licensing and testing not to
mention the courses one has to take here. Your fees are much cheaper as well. The one big difference I see is in the initial firearms license. We take a 6 week
(2 times a week) course, then an exam, then stringent

I'm not trying to make this political, I'm really not. I'm just saying this for the benefit and context of our non-U.S. friends here. "Ridiculously restrictive" is still probably far less restrictive than any other countries whose citizens are members of this forum.

Very true .....

 

[mjs9153]

Ok, here's "Honeybadger", my pride and joy as far as rifles go. View attachment 9505 View attachment 9506

The bipod is detachable but I don't carry it as a shoulder weapon so I just leave the bipod attached. It's had a lot of rounds put thru it but it still will get the job done at long range.

 

[Alexandra M]

Well,neither am I..I say that due to the hoops that law abiding citizens in some states have to jump through to have the right to purchase a gun..as a for instance,the state I live in,after retiring from active duty of over twenty years as a police officer,no black marks or excessive force incidents,it took ten months for me to get a pistol permit..after qualifying year after year,high scores always,no safety problems with a gun either..and I know of people who have taken well over a year to get theirs in this state.That is what I meant,I realize other countries have their issues,I was just making a general statement there..

For what it is worth, it goes unsaid -- I understand where you are coming from and do agree.

 

[Grandpa]

Well, without going to the local gun shop or outdoor shop or Walmart, I could go to my friend and buy a handgun or rifle from him, and he's got a bunch of them acquired over the years, and there's no law that I know of saying that I can't or preventing us from having the transaction. I'm not saying that's good or bad. That's the status.

 

[Alexandra M]

Well, without going to the local gun shop or outdoor shop or Walmart, I could go to my friend and buy a handgun or rifle from him, and he's got a bunch of them acquired over the years, and there's no law that I know of saying that I can't or preventing us from having the transaction. I'm not saying that's good or bad. That's the status.

It is incredible really. As a Canadian that scenario just is not possible and with our laws becoming more stringent as times go on it will never be an option. Yet. the
millions and millions of dollars each year put into Gun Control and our government cannot see that LE have the equipment and firearms needed to protect themselves
and the public. Another thing that is frustrating is that even though we have such tough Gun Control it is not uncommon to hear of someone buying a firearm
out of the trunk of a car on a busy street in several of our major cities. Something seriously wrong with this picture....

 

[M&P15]

Well, without going to the local gun shop or outdoor shop or Walmart, I could go to my friend and buy a handgun or rifle from him, and he's got a bunch of them acquired over the years, and there's no law that I know of saying that I can't or preventing us from having the transaction. I'm not saying that's good or bad. That's the status.

We do have background checks on retail gun sales but not private sales
This is what the big fight on background checks was about a few years ago.

I am open to the discussion, but so far I have seen no details come forth on how such a law could be implemented without federal gun registration as was claimed.

Oh well, I'd rather see some way to get more gun owners to store their guns in safes to prevent them from falling in the wrong hands because lord knows most police depts don't make stolen guns any higher a priority than stolen stereos.

Own guns? LOCK EM IN A SAFE WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF THEM!!! Don't end up being part of the problem with black market guns.

 

[Grandpa]

I am open to the discussion, but so far I have seen no details come forth on how such a law could be implemented without federal gun registration as was claimed.

Honestly, I wasn't trying to start a discussion - just let the non-USA folks know that guns here don't have the same restrictions that they're used to, that we can sell each other firearms as easily as furniture.

If I were to buy a Ruger or Glock or Remington from my good friend who owns such things, I wouldn't be part of a "black market" any more than if I'd bought a sofa or or lawn mower from him.

 

[ghost19]

Yes sir, it will most certainly reach out there for sure. I just wish my eyesight and steadiness were still there to be able to use it like I used to be able to..lol, great getting older, ain't it?

 

[mjs9153]

yes when you are a rookie,you have all the physical ability and stamina in the world,and no knowledge..and they decrease and increase in inverse proportion as you get older..

 

[Riot87]

Great pictures everyone!